Collapsible form



June 16, 1925. 1,541,827

I o. J. LA'ISY COLLAPS IBLE FORM Original Filed April 20. 1921 PatentedJune 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR J. LAI$Y, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO,

; w I 1 i I COLLAPSIBLE FORM.

Application. filed April 20, 1921, Serial No. 462,805. Renewed December26, 1924.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR J. LAISY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland,in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and 'lilscful Improvement in Collapsible Forms,of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to collapsible forms and has particular referenceto that class of forms such as are used in connection with lighter thanair craft commonly known as dirigibles, although in its broadest sensemy invention is capable of other uses wherein a collapsible form isadvantageous and desirable.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide a supportingstructure for the gas bag ofa dirigible which may be easily andconveniently collapsed to facilitate storage or shipment thereof; toprovide a form or structure for the gas bag of a dirigible which shallhave the advan tages of a rigid type of dirigible but which may becollapsedto secure the advantages of a non-rigid type of dirigible; toprovide a structure of the aforesaid character which shall be simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate, whilefurther objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown one embodiment of myinvention but without intent to limit myself thereto, Fig. 1 is alongitudinal sectional View of a, gas bag of a dirigible supported by astructure constructed in accordance with, my invention; Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the structure collapsed: Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 3 3of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail sectional view illustratinga method of sealing the gas bag at theend where thestructure is operated; and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detailviews illustrating the manner of securing the longitudinal andtransverse members together.

Broadly considered, the invention consists of two series of longitudinalribs, one series being adapted to move in unison with respect to theother to erect or collapse the structure. Suitable means are employedfor spacing the ribs and means are also provided for retaining thestructure in erected condition.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application, 1indicates a series of longitudinal ribs which are movable with respectto a second longitudinal series indicated at 2, said ribs being shown 1nthe present instance arranged alternately to describe a cylindertapering at each end, although it will be understood that other shapescan be constructed to operate in a manner similar to that to bedescribed hereinafter. The ribs 1 are pivotally fastened at theirrespective ends to a plate 3 and a ring 7 while ribs 2 are fastened atone end to a plate 5 secured to a longitudinally disposed rod 6 and atthe other end said ribs are secured to a plate 4. The ring 7 is adaptedto fit within a groove 8 formed in plate 4, when the structure iserected. In order that the ribs 1 and 2 may be spaced correctly whenerected I provide a series of transverse segmental ribs 10 therebetween.By referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 it will be seen that each of the ribs 1and 2 is fitted with a sleeve 11 which is provided with a dependingproject-ion 12, said sleeves being positioned on said ribs at pointswhere the transverse ribs 10 abut. Each transverse segmental rib 10 iscut away at its diagonal end as indicated at 14 and each end is fittedwith a metal binding piece 15.

It will be noted in this connection that the cuts 14 are made in suchmanner that a pair of segments 10 positioned, one on each side ofalongitudinal rib will have said cuts arranged in the same relativeposition, so that a wire 16 or othersuitable tying material may bepassed through one cut-away portion and around the projection 12 and upthrough the cut-away portion on the other segment to secure the ends anda hinge joint on each side of saidlongitudinal rib.

In order that the longitudinal ribs may be expanded to the desireddiameter, I provide a series of radial supporting rods 17 and 18, rods17 being pivotally fastened at their inner ends to a series of ringplates 19 which are slidably mounted on the rod 6 and at their outerends, said rods are each provided with an eye 20 through which the wire16 is passed to secure said rods to the ribs 1. Rods 18 are pivotallysecured at their inner ends to a similar series of ring plates 21whiclrare securely fastened to the rod 6 and at their outer ends, saidrods are pivotally secured by the tie wires 16 to the ribs 2 in a mannerpreviously described in connection with rods 17.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that movement of therod 6 to the right will carry plates 21 with it and collapse the radialsupporting rods 17 and 18 as shown inFignQ. This movement also causesthe segmental ribs 10 to turn about their diagonally disposed pivotpoints and assume longitudinal positions parallel with the ribs 1 and 2;

Therod 6 isprovidedwith a bore 6 to receive a guide rod 25 whichprojects from the plate'3 and at its-rear end said rod is provided witha plate 26 which has a series of apertures 27 arranged circumferentiallytlJQYQOf. The plate s lis provided -with a series of studs28'which' areadaptedto engage with the-apertures 27 when theframe is erected and nuts29- threaded thereon to serve to retain the structure in erectedcondition.

The striicture is erected by pushing forw'ardl-y-on rod (3 which carriesthe plates Ql forwardly andcauses rods 17 and" 18 to assumeradialsupporting positions similar to that shown in' Fig. 1. Thesegmental ribs 10' will also be-rotated by virtue of the movement of thelongitudinal ribs and will assume transverse spacing positions as shownin Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

In the case of'a dirigible such aslhave illustrated in the drawing, theframe may be covered with a gas bag fabric in anyapproved manner, suchcovering being indicated generally at 30 and in order to provide agastight joint where the rod 6 projects through the'rear endduring-erecting and collapsing of the frame, I provide a circular flangem'onthe rod 6 and secure a small gas tight bag 32 the-reabout whichextends rearwardly and fastens to the innerside of plate l. lVhen theframe is erected said bag assumesa position as shown in Figs. 1 and l,and whencollapse'd the bag-is foldedbetween thefla'nge- 31 and plate 4as indicated lVhile I'haveshown and described a collapsible fiame fordirigiblesit will be understood that a frame of the same generalcharacteristics could be applied to-many uses, suchas concrete formsandothers.

Having thus described my invention,- what I claim is l; Acollapsibleframe comprisinga plurality of longitudinal ribs, certain of said ribsbeing movablc'in an opposite direction withrespectto the other of said:ribs, means connected toand adapted to space said longitudinal ribs, andmeans for moving: said longitudinal ribs to cause said spacing means toassume a longitudinal position and collapsesaid frame.

2. A collapsible frame comprising-a plurality of longitudinal ribsarranged to enclose a transverse area of 360, certain of said ribs beingmovable longitudinally with respect to the other of said ribs,transverse ribs hingedly connected to said longitudinai -ribs, andmeansformovingrsaid longitudinal ribs to cause said transverse ribs toassume a longitudinal position and: collapse said frame" 3. Acollapsibleframe comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs arranged toenclose a'transverse area of 360, certain of said ribs being'movablelongitudinally with respect to the'othenof said ribs, transverse ribshingedly connected tovsaidlongitudinal ribs radial members hingedlyconnected to and adapted to supportsaidlongitudinal ribs, and meansassociated with said radial members for erecting; and collapsingv saidframe.

4. A collapsible frame comprisingtwo:series of. longitudinal supporting;ribs, one seriesof ribs beingimovable and arranged alternately withrespect to the other series to enclose a transverse area 0f 360",plurality oftransverse segmental ribshingedly connected tosaidlongitudinal ribs, radial members hingedly connected to and adaptedtosupport said longitudinal ribs,:and means connected to saidiradialvmembers for erectingand collapsing said frame.

5.: Acollap'sibleiframe comprising a plurality: oflongitudinal ribsarranged to enclosea transverse area of 3609, certain of said ribs beingmovablelongitudinally with respect to the other 'ofisaid' ribs,-transverse ribs comprising .a plurality of segments interspaeed betweensaid longitudinal ribs and hingedly connectedtherewith, radial sup--ports hingcdly connected to said movable ribs'and-toa movable member,and means for moving said member thereby to move said supports in unisonto erect and collapse said frame.

6. A- collapsible frame comprising. a'plurality of longitudinal ribsarranged to enclose a transversevarea of 860,certain of said 5 ribsbeing. movable. longitudinally with respect to the otherwofsaid ribs,transverse ribs :comprising a plurality of segments,"- each segmentbeing interspaced .between ,a pair of longitudinal ribs and? hingedlyiconnected therewith, a group ofaradialsupports hingedly connected tosaid =movable ribs a dj acent each of said transverseribs,aisecondrgroup of radial. I supports hingedly connected I to theother of; said longitudinal?ribs and means for moving: said firstmentioned; groups of raidal supports inunison thereby to erect andcollapse: said frame.

7; A. collapsible framecomprising; a. plurality of longitudinal ribsarranged to enclose a transverse area of 360" transverse ribs hingedlyconnected to said longitudinal ribs, and means for collapsing said frameto cause said transverse ribs to assume a longitudinal position.

8. A collapsible frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribsarranged to enclose a transverse area of 360, transverse ribs hingedlyconnected to said longitudinal ribs, radial members hingedly connectedto lapsing said frame.

10. A collapsible frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribsarranged to e11- close a transverse area of 360, certain of said ribsbeing movable longitudinally with respect to the other of said ribs,transverse ribs comprising a plurality of segments interposed betweensaid longitudinal ribs and hingedly connected therewith, radial supports hingedly connected to said movable ribs to a movable member, andmeans for retaining said member in a fixed position thereby to hold saidparts in erected po sition.-

11. A collapsible frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribsarranged to enclose a transverse area of 360, certain of said ribs beingmovable longitudinally with respect to the other of said ribs,transverse ribs comprising a plurality of segments, each segment beinginterspaced between a pair of longitudinal ribs and hingedly connectedtherewith, a group of radial supports Mug edly connected to said movableribs adjacent each of said transverse ribs, a second group of radialsupports hingedly connected to the other of said longitudinal ribs, anda longitudinally disposed member connected to and adapted to move saidfirst mentioned groups of radial supports in unison thereby to erect andcollapse said frame.

12. A collapsible frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs,certain of said ribs being movable in an opposite direction with respectto the other of said ribs, rigid members connected to and adapted tospace said longitudinal ribs, and means for mov ing said longitudinalribs to cause said rigid members to assume a longitudinal position andcollapse said frame.

13. A collapsible frame for airships, balloons and the like comprising aplurality of longitudinal ribs, connected at each end to a head, a rigidmember extending longitudinally through the frame and through one ofsaidheads, a hub carried by said rigid member, a plurality of radial supporting members hingedly connected at their inner ends to said hub andat their other ends to said longitudinal ribs, said rigid member beingmovable longitudinally with respect to said ribs thereby to erect orcollapse said frame.

14. A collapsible frame for airships, balloons and the like comprising aplurality of longitudinal ribs connected at each end to a head, a rigidmember extendingvlongitudinally through the frame, means connected toone of said heads for supporting and guiding said member, a hub carriedby said rigid member, a plurality of radial supporting members hingedlyconnected at their inner ends to said hub and at their outer ends tosaid longitudinal ribs, said rigid member being movable longitudinallywith respect to said ribs thereby to erect or collapse said frame.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

OSCAR J. LAISY.

